Bill Text: NC H756 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Reform Recreational Use Statute
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-3)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-29 - Ref To Com On Judiciary I [H756 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2013-H756-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2013
H 2
HOUSE BILL 756
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/24/13
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Short Title: Reform Recreational Use Statute. |
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Sponsors: |
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Referred to: |
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April 11, 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to improve the north carolina recreational use statute by clarifying that equine recreation WHERE the landowner receives no compensation IS subject to the Recreational use statute and not the Equine activity Liability statute, by clarifying that contractual releases are not abrogated or invalidated by the Recreational use statute, and by allowing a charge for activities subject to the recreational use statute when the charge is imposed by certain activity sponsors and not the landowner.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 38A‑2(5) reads as rewritten:
"§ 38A‑2. Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply throughout this Chapter, unless otherwise specified:
…
(5) "Recreational purpose" means any activity
undertaken for recreation, exercise, education, relaxation, refreshment,
diversion, or pleasure.pleasure or sport, including equestrian
recreation as defined in G.S. 99E‑1."
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 99E‑1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 99E‑1. Definitions.
As used in this Article, the term:
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(3) "Equine activity" means any activity involving an equine. Actions to preserve, maintain, or regulate the use of land for equestrian recreation shall not be considered an equine activity.
(4) "Equine activity sponsor" means an individual, group, club, partnership, or corporation, whether the sponsor is operating for profit or nonprofit, which sponsors, organizes, or provides the facilities for an equine activity. The term includes operators and promoters of equine facilities. A landowner who allows equine recreation on the landowner's property shall not be considered an equine activity sponsor.
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(5a) "Equine recreation" means use of a landowner's property for an equine activity (i) where the landowner is neither the equine activity sponsor nor the equine professional and (ii) when the landowner permits use of the property without charge. For purposes of this subdivision, "charge" has the meaning set forth in G.S. 38A‑2 and G.S. 38A‑3.
…."
SECTION 1.(c) Article 1 of Chapter 99E of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 99E‑4. Exception.
The liability of a landowner for injury or death associated with participation in equine recreation shall be subject to the limitation set forth in G.S. 38A‑4 and shall not be subject to this Article."
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 38A‑4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 38A‑4. Limitation of liability.
(a) Except as specifically recognized by or provided for in this Chapter, an owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use such land for educational or recreational purposes owes the person the same duty of care that he owes a trespasser, except nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to limit or nullify the doctrine of attractive nuisance and the owner shall inform direct invitees of artificial or unusual hazards of which the owner has actual knowledge. This section does not apply to an owner who invites or permits any person to use land for a purpose for which the land is regularly used and for which a price or fee is usually charged even if it is not charged in that instance, or to an owner whose purpose in extending an invitation or granting permission is to promote a commercial enterprise.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with or render ineffectual a liability release, indemnification, assumption, or acknowledgment of risk agreement between the landowner and a person who uses the land for educational or recreational purposes."
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 99E‑2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"§ 99E‑2. Liability.
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(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with or render ineffectual a liability release, indemnification, assumption, or acknowledgment of risk agreement between a participant and an equine activity sponsor or an equine professional."
SECTION 3. G.S. 38A‑3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 38A‑3. Exclusions.
For purposes of this Chapter, the term "charge" does not include:
(1) Any contribution in kind, services or cash contributed
by a person, legal entity, nonprofit organization, or governmental entity other
than the owner, whether or not sanctioned or solicited by the owner, the
purpose of which is to (i) remedy damage to land caused by educational or
recreational use; or (ii) provide warning of hazards on, or remove
hazards from, land used for educational or recreational purposes.purposes;
or (iii) pay expenses related to the use of land for a recreational or
educational purpose.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing or otherwise provided by the State or federal tax codes, any property tax abatement or relief received by the owner from the State or local taxing authority in exchange for the owner's agreement to open the land for educational or recreational purposes.
(3) Dues or fees charged by an individual, group, club, partnership, corporation, or governmental entity sponsoring the educational or recreational use when (i) the sponsor is operating as a nonprofit or in a nonprofit capacity and (ii) the dues or fees are used to pay expenses relating to the educational or recreational use or to raise funds to support the sponsor's mission."
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective October 1, 2013, and applies to civil actions filed on or after that date.
